Muazzin killed near mosque in Bhopal

A 65-year-old Muazzin of a mosque was allegedly killed today near the prayer place under Taliya police station area in the Madhya Pradesh capital, police said.

Nisar Ahmed, attached to Akhade Wali Masjid, was allegedly attacked in neck with a sharp object by unidentified person (s) when he was sitting on a bench near the mosque, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajesh Singh Bhadauriya.

Muazzin is a Muslim official of a mosque who summons the faithful to prayer from a minaret five times a day.

He said Ahmed was possibly attacked with a screwdriver.

"After he was attacked, Ahmed ran towards the mosque, but collapsed in its compound," said the ASP.

Ahmed was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the officer said.

"He died due to excessive bleeding. The wound was not lethal, but bleeding for a long period of time caused his death," Bhadauriya said quoting a doctor.

When asked about the exact number of attackers involved in the incident, the officer said the investigation was on.

Another senior police officer said initial investigation suggested that the killing could be the fallout of an "internal rivalry in the mosque".

He said Ahmed died due to excessive bleeding, as he failed to get help in time. "Police were informed late about the incident," he said.